CONCERT

February 23- Danity Kane/Pussycat Dolls/Christina Aguilera concert
Of course, we were there to see Danity Kane, but everyone else was good too.

Just Some Perks

Just A List of things I’ll miss about volleyball:

-At least four pairs of shoes a year ( 2 running and 2 court)
-At least 48 pairs of long adidas socks
-Three pairs of spandex each year (great to wear as underwear or to bed) (12 pairs of practice spandex)
-Three practice T-shirts a year to keep
-Promotional T-shirts (5 a year) to wear to events or camps
-A pair of grey sweats and a pair of black sweats
-Travel sweats to wear all year round
-Three free book bags
-Travel bag
-3 sports bras a year
-Letterman coats (fleece and letter coat)
-Letterman watch
-Fleece
-Black sweatshirt
-Pillowcase
-Blanket
-1500 dollars every semester for “bills and rent” and anything else you want
-500 dollars for clothes, school, and medical
-Tuition
-Free trips (San Antonio, Six Flags)

I don't remember the last time I had to buy a pair of running shoes or bras or a book bag...it is like Christmas when I get all of this stuff...but not anymore

HATRED

-Pretty much every single driver who does not drive like me
-Inconsiderate/rude people
-People who don’t know how to pick up after themselves
-People who don’t have the common domestic qualities, like doing own dishes after you use them or wiping up a mess you made
-Ruining my clothes because I wear them when I do art
-Weather in the single digits
-Squirrels and most animals
-When there is nothing on T.V.
-People who don’t know any better but should because they’re grown and have no excuse except their stupid parents who raised them
-Feeling useless
-When guys don’t get it.
-When guys don’t do what I want them to do or say what I want them to say, but I don’t want to tell them…I think they should be able to read girl’s minds
-Why a different part of my body aches every day when I wake up and I don’t remember getting hurt or doing anything
-Pimples…I’m 22 years old…when does it end
-Getting older…I would do anything to be a kid again (Being old is not fun)
-Going to the bar or school events and not recognizing anyone (realizing that I am that old)
-I Daydream too much…can’t pay attention for that long
-I have senioritis…but that’s not a good sign since I’ll be a senior twice…so that’s kind of scary

Why are you here?

After my basketball game, last week, I was asked why I was at the gym now that volleyball was over and I don’t have to be there anymore…am I supposed to not work out…am I supposed to get fat and out of shape? According to some people who have not experienced what I have…

Money, please

Where the hell does my money go?
I do live a very expensive life…if you consider always eating out and buying a lot of gas because I drive to class instead of walk extravagant…I do spend a lot of money on food and gas...and I wonder where all of my money goes. I received a check for 1500 dollars at the beginning of the semester for rent and other bills from my scholarship and I have about 150 dollars left of that money and half of it I spent on things that I wasn’t supposed to spend the money on. So, I wonder where my money goes…useless things. I’m learning how expensive life is and I don’t like it.

Workin Out???

Since my last volleyball game November 19th… I have worked out/lifted a total of 8 times, including 4 intramural basketball games…so over a three month period I’ve worked out an average of once a week…not bad from coming off a regiment of at least one workout a day all year round since the age of 9.

USB Drives

I do not trust USB drives. Around this time last year, I misplaced my drive which had most of my junior year work and some of my sophomore work on it, so I thought my life was over. But, I found it and everything was fine. Exactly one year later, my new USB drive just stopped working after only about four months of having it. What the hell is going on with these stupid fucking devices. This time, most of my work was backed up so I didn’t really lose anything, but just going through that again was annoying in itself. So, I do not trust these pieces of shit to spend another penny on another one. I could have bought like three dinners with that money or something.

Offer

So, a few weeks ago, I got an offer from one of the track coach’s wondering if I wanted to continue my college sports career for the next two years throwing the javelin. He said that I didn’t need any experience, I already had the ability to BECOME a good javelinist. (is that a word?) Is this guy nuts? My own father couldn’t even convince me to throw the discus or shot put in high school…does he really think he could get me to do this now? He must be that desperate…well, yes he was when I found out that he had asked half of the volleyball team. I just couldn’t imagine competing with other experienced javelin people during my senior year…during Drake Relays…making a fool of myself in spandex…(been done before) but at least with volleyball I knew what I was doing…but yea, hell no to the javelin throwing…I would rather gain 20 pounds from drinking beer and laying around…sure I’ll go watch during Relays, might be a little drunk…Wouldn’t you think when participating in a college sport you would need some type of experience since it is a higher level…don’t think I could go through being a college athlete again in a different sport.

Basketball

First week of playoffs started yesterday…we played a team called the Ligers…whom we played before and beat by at least 30…who forfeited but still wanted to play for a little while…we didn’t have a ref and the scorekeeper stopped keeping score after our first three baskets…so it was pretty sad…Second round is this Tuesday.

Volleyball News Release

February 13, 2007
Volleyball Names Award Winners at Annual Team Banquet

DES MOINES, IOWA- The Drake women’s volleyball team recently celebrated its 2006 campaign at the squad’s annual award dinner. Four awards were presented at the event.

Senior Eve Johnson (Council Bluffs, Iowa) was honored as the recipient of the team’s Most Valuable Player Award. Appearing in all 30 matches, Johnson turned in a stellar senior campaign as she led the Bulldogs in kills (303), kills per game (3.22), total attempts (960), digs (269), digs per game (2.86) and double-doubles (9). Finishing among the Missouri Valley Conference leaders in kills and digs, she registered the highest single-match kill total of any Valley player last season as she recorded 32 in a victory at Southern Illinois. She finished her brilliant Drake career as the school’s leader in kills and attack attempts and fifth in digs.

Oh, Priests

Earlier this month, I heard that one of the priests that taught at my school for the past fifteen years was asked to leave for allegations of sexual abuse of a child. The minute I heard that I wasn't really that surprised, but if it is true; it makes you think about the people you are around. Do you really know them that well? Especially, priests who are people that you confide in and are supposed to be holy and what not. But, having religion classes with this priest from 7th to senior year, I know that most people knew him to be somewhat sexist. He did not like girls too much. But, if you were a popular athletic guy at the school in any grade, you were his favorite. You could go to his classroom during off periods and just hang out. Or, even ride with him to state basketball games, or even allow him to tag along when there was a guy's night out. Wow, what a cool priest...NOT! I never liked the guy, I always thought there was something weird about him, and no it wasn't the fact that the man looked like Mr. Burns on the Simpsons, exactly like him.

Following diocesan policy, the allegation was first reported to police. Based on a written report of the abuse, Bishop Joseph L. Charron took action to bar Hobt from functioning publicly as a priest. The Des Moines diocese in September 2003 named three priests accused of sexual abuse of children, including a popular Dowling Catholic High School president, and announced they had been removed from ministry. In the time since, Albert Wilwerding died, John Ryan and Richard Wagner, the former Dowling president, reluctantly agreed to be laicized. The Vatican on Nov. 16.

And I will say it again; you never know why priests are accused of these crimes. And, also you really never know who your priest is, and I'm not saying that my ex-priest did it, but I did have a grasp of what kind of person he was, and like I said, I'm not surprised.

80's Rock

You Know You Grew Up In the 80's if:

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.

2. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom

3. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"

4. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)

5. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
6. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets
7. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
8. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
9. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool
10. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.

11. You tight rolled your jeans.
12. You owned a bannana clip.

Athlete Thoughts

Most will not and cannot comprehend and accept the fact that their athletic careers are over. I say comprehend because it is something which many top-level athletes in Division I never fully prepare for.

The feeling of loss and failure. The overshadowing memories of accomplishments and triumphs. The reality that life will never seem to be as complete as it was during our times as student-athletes. These things don't go away overnight or even over long periods of time for some "ex" student-athletes.

It has been difficult to adjust to a world without the competitive nature as sport. Life is eerily different and sometimes is seems there is nothing I can do to replace what once was so much a part of "me" as my own face or name.

I'm not going to lie or try make you think "poor me,", because I am very lucky. I am receiving an education that I am proud of. I have met and learned from people who are different than me in every way. I've had experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything. All this probably would not have been possible without my involvement with sports.

Still, I cannot bring myself to watch a volleyball match. I tell myself that I can't watch because I hate watching things I think I should be apart of. But in all honesty, it is because my volleyball career is over as a collegian and no surgery or help from a teacher is going to change that.
Now I find myself becoming the best "student" or "waitress" no longer “volleyball player” that I know.

Sport isn't just a game, it's been life up to this point and without it I wouldn't be the same. Bottom-line is that moving on is something that must be done.

Work

So I worked Friday night and this morning at my new job, Legends...I made a total of about 120 dollars just working a total of 10 hours...not bad at all...hard work does pay off

Random Thoughts

After this semester I will need 9 more credit hours to graduate...as much as I am tempted to graduate in December and leave Des Moines for good with a BFA in graphic design...I just don't think that I will be satisfied. I have recently been considering getting my teaching endorsement and teach elementary art from experience in working with kids this past summer which I enjoyed so much...this would require me to go a whole fifth year. Other thoughts that do go through my head are the fact that I don't think I could handle a full time job right now, but at the same time I cannot stand being in school

Work

So I start my new job tomorrow night at Legends...before you start working shifts you have to take a test to see how well you know the menu and facts about the restaurant...well I took it tonight and I am pretty sure I passed but with lots of help from the other servers...One of the questions however was, What kind of cheese is on a Turkey Cheddar Melt? By the way, I did not need help for that one

New Pick Up Line

Last Saturday night I went to Drink with a couple of my friends and an older gentleman came up to us and used this fresh new pick up line, "Um, were you ladies looking for me?" Needless to say this pick up line did not work and the guy got no response because we were in shock and he walked away in shame

Closure

I had my last volleyball banquet last Friday at Christophers...very good but expensive food...I received the MVP award and a lot of other senior gifts as well...it wasn't too emotional...nor were the speakers too boring...aka my coach...I laughed a lot...It was good closure...the last time I would ever see some of those people...so it was bittersweet...Six seniors leave the team. Here's a picture of the seniors who showed and their parents...it's my favorite

Undefeated

I just had my second intramural basketball game yesterday and we won by about 30 points...two more games until the playoffs